Inkout

Why a black box often isn't a redaction

Most leaked redactions weren't hacked. Someone copied the text out from under a rectangle. These are the three common failures, and what Inkout does instead.

Failure 1 · Covered, not removed

The text is still in the file

A black shape or highlight drawn in a PDF editor sits on top of the words. Select, copy and paste, and the "hidden" text comes right back.

Failure 2 · Blur and pixelation

Blurs can be reversed

Blurred or mosaicked text, faces and plates keep enough of the original pattern to be guessed or reconstructed. Inkout only offers solid fills.

Failure 3 · Hidden metadata

The file talks about itself

PDFs carry author names and edit history. Phone photos carry camera model, time and often GPS location in their EXIF data.

What Inkout does

Flatten, paint, rebuild, verify

Every page becomes pixels, boxes overwrite those pixels, and a fresh file is assembled from the images alone. Then the output is opened again and checked for any text or metadata.

Frequently asked questions

How Inkout handles your files, how redaction works, and what to do when something doesn't go as expected.

Privacy and security

Are my files uploaded anywhere?

No. Inkout reads and processes your files in your browser's memory, on your own device. Nothing is sent to us or to anyone else. Once the page has loaded you can even disconnect from the internet and keep working.

Does Inkout keep a copy of my document?

No. There is no server storing anything. When you close the tab, reload the page or open another file, the document is gone from memory.

Do you use cookies, analytics or ads?

No. Inkout has no advertising, analytics or tracking scripts. The only thing it stores is your Pro license key, in your own browser, if you activate Pro.

Is Inkout safe for confidential or legal documents?

Inkout removes covered content properly: it is not hidden under a shape, it is gone from the file. You are still responsible for choosing what to cover and checking the result before you share it. Read the disclaimer for the details.

How redaction works

How is this different from drawing a black box in a PDF editor?

Most editors place a shape on top of the text, and the text stays in the file underneath. Anyone can select it, copy it and paste it somewhere else. Inkout turns every page into an image, paints the boxes into that image and builds a new file from the images alone, so the covered text no longer exists.

Why isn't the exported PDF searchable?

Because every page is now an image, there is no text left to search or copy. That is exactly what keeps the redaction safe. Keep your original, unredacted file somewhere secure in case you need it later.

Why can't I blur or pixelate instead?

Blurred or pixelated text often keeps enough of its shape to be guessed or reconstructed, especially short items like numbers. Solid fills leave nothing to work with, so Inkout only offers black or white boxes.

What does the verification check actually test?

After export, Inkout opens the new file again and confirms that it contains no selectable text and that identifying metadata (author, subject and keywords for PDFs, camera and GPS details for photos) is gone. It cannot tell whether your boxes cover the right things. That part is up to you.

What does “Peek under boxes” do?

It makes boxes see-through in the editor so you can check they sit exactly over what you meant to hide. It only changes the view. Exported boxes are always solid.

What else gets removed from my file?

Links, form fields, comments, attachments, bookmarks, hidden layers and document metadata are all left behind, because the new file is built from page images only.

Using Inkout

Which file types can I open?

PDFs and images: PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF and BMP. Images are saved as PNG. For Word, Excel or other files, export or print them to PDF first, then open the PDF here.

Why did Find miss something?

Find reads the PDF's text layer. It can miss text that is split across two lines, written with unusual spacing or characters, or part of an image inside the PDF. Always look over every page after using Find.

Can Inkout read scanned documents or photos of text?

Not yet. Scans and photos have no text layer, so Find can't see their words. Draw boxes over anything sensitive by hand.

What do labels like (b)(6) mean?

They are exemption codes from the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, used by agencies to show why something was withheld. For example, (b)(6) covers personal privacy. If you aren't answering a FOIA request, choose REDACTED or no label.

Which page quality should I choose?

200 DPI keeps normal text sharp at a sensible file size. Use 150 DPI for long documents you need to email, and 300 DPI when the file will be printed or has very small print.

Does Inkout work on a phone or tablet?

Yes. Use the bar at the bottom of the screen to switch between Scroll and Draw, and zoom in to place boxes precisely.

My PDF is password-protected. What do I do?

Open it in your usual PDF app, remove the password or save an unlocked copy, then open that copy in Inkout.

Pro and billing

What do I get with Pro?

Batch mode for redacting a stack of PDFs with the same rules, and redaction logs in PDF and CSV for every export. See pricing for details.

I lost my license key. How do I get it back?

It's in your purchase receipt email from Lemon Squeezy. You can also find it by looking up your order on Lemon Squeezy's My Orders page with the email you used at checkout.

How many devices can I use Pro on?

Up to 3. To move Pro to a new device, open Unlock Pro on the old one and choose Deactivate on this device.

How do I cancel or get a receipt?

Billing is handled by Lemon Squeezy. Use the links in your receipt email to manage your subscription, or email us and we'll help.

Still stuck? Email

Unlock Inkout Pro

Paste the license key from your purchase email. It's checked with Lemon Squeezy, our payment provider. Your files are never involved.

Lost your key? It's in your receipt email, or look up your order on Lemon Squeezy's My Orders page with the email you used at checkout.

This is a Pro feature